, 1887-03-10
RnilrOnd COnfcrenCe.

One of the most important and
largely attended conferences of trans
continental railroad managers ever
held in New York was closed last
Thursday. 1t was held in the North
ern Pacific office, and lasted two days.
Roads represented were the Central
Pacific, Union Pacific, Northern Pa
cific, Missouri Pacific, Atchison, Tope-
ko,& Santa Fe and Southern Pacific.
They were represented by presidents
G. f. Adams, r. Harris G. p. Hunt
ington, Charles II. Crocker, William B.
Strong and Jay Gould, and traffic man
ayers Kimball, Towne and Galloway.
Vice-presidents of some of the roads
were also present, and counselOrs Gray
of the Northern Pacific, Sidney Dillon
and Tweed of the Southern Pacific.
The conference discussed the ques-
tions, first, as to the requirements of
the Interstate commerce bill and Sec
ond, how the transcontinental roads
can get into harmony with the law and
meet the demands of public sentiment.
The result of their deliberations Was
that two tariffs for freight and passen-
ger business should be prepared, one
under the long haul clause and the
other under the short haul clause, as
they are understood by the roads.
These tariffs are to take effect April 5,
and are to be submitted to the inter
state railway commissioners within
reasonable time after their appoint
ment is announced. A committee was
also appointed to prepare. under the
advice OF counsel, a memorial to the
interstate commission, setting forth
the Interpretation of the law as arrived
at by the tran-continental railway COM
panies, and soliciting the approval of
the tariffs, if their provision shall meet
the views of the commissioners.
The traffic committee which con-
cluded its labors on freight classifica-
ton Tuesday, joined the passenger
agents and other railway magnates
to-day. The subject of discussion was
Interpretation of the interstate COM
merce law. The opinion in relation
to the meaning of the excursion clause
varied widely. Eastern men were in. |
clined to construe it literally and ives.
tern managers favored strict inter-
probation. Owing to this, the confer
ence was unable to come to any detin-
ite conclusion until to-day, when a
report was agreed upon. This will be
presented tomorrow. The following
was adopted
Resolved, That where eastward
through freight rates are
quoted by the agreement
to any point on any railway, no
Ia Of 1,l 40 h;yk 1.
issued to a shorter intermediate point
on the same line.
Resolved, That under present con.
where eastbound or westbound
through bills of lading are given to
points beyond Chicago, st. Louis or
other junction points in joint com.
mon territory, to or from which the
roads or associations thereof establish
their tariffs, rates in both directions
should be quoted only via such con.
necting roads as shall join in rates to
Intermediate points not in excess of !
'ates to percentage points beyond.
The standing committee of the Joint
have decided that the
CENTRAL Traffic association percentage ,
Gale from Missouri river points be :.
dopted. 1t recommends that rates
rom and to those points be based 1
hereon and apply on all traffic billed t
herefrom or thereto. Provided, that b
always leading to and from said n
lissouri river points authorize rates ;,
ot higher than said Missouri river -
ntes to and from all those points east {,
hereof, through functions with rail =
ays and lines in the joint committee. !.
otherwise the rates Of the joint COM 3,
littee to and from said functions shall n n
made and prevail on all traffic ex- n
iange with such connections, accord N
'g to the adopted percentage scale. h